What has been your best short family holiday?

[CaptainBrickbeard]

I have recently achieved a long-held ambition and received a significant sum of money and want to take my family on the first holiday we have ever been on as a four. Annual leave for my husband is tricky and we are looking at only having about five or six days in the Easter holidays available to go away next year.

We have a nine year old and a six year old. I’d considered New York but think it might be a bit much for the youngest, especially the long flight when we only have a short amount of time so I might leave that for a few years time!

We all love swimming, museums, zoos, castles and aquariums so I’m thinking a city break in a hotel with a pool would suit us. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Paris with a day or two in Eurodisney?

Ooh thanks - I will read the Eurodisney threads actually as I know there are loads of tips. That’s a great idea.

Your child’s would be the perfect age. We went by Eurostar which was good fun.

*children

Disneyland Paris! Easily the best short trip we’ve done, loves every second.

At Easter a lot of places will still be quite cool in Europe that may or may not bother you but you could go somewhere like Portugal that has a lot of indoor pools as well as a lot to do outside.

Totally agree with Disney plus Paris. Have done it twice. Perfect mix of culture and family fun.

Amsterdam and Efteling would be brilliant at those ages too.

If you don't go with Euro Disney then I can't recommend Budapest enough.
Lots to do, castles, museums, the thermal spa waters, zoo, boat trip.
It's a fabulous, beautiful, very friendly city

Cyprus.
Great for a shorter break.

Rome
Athens
Barcelona
Munich or Berlin
Paris and Lyon
You can do a night flight NYC. Although it will be freezing cold then.

Amsterdam - easy to get to, very walkable and loads for everyone to enjoy.

If you don't want to fly we always had great family holidays to center parcs as a child and the longleat one has a zoo next door

Loads of ideas, thank you! I’d never considered Budapest but that sounds really interesting.

I want to do all of these ideas!

Lisbon ticks a lot of your boxes.

Disneyland Paris or Port Aventura with Barcelona for the culture .

Barcelona

I have been to Barcelona but not sure what the children might like there - mind you, I went with a friend and I wasn’t looking out for family attractions!

Lisbon looks beautiful! Very keen. I also like the look of Munich.

For that length of time, I would probably go for centre parcs, and then save some of the money for another trip when your DH can get time off for a full week.

Lisbon.

Palma

This is a great question!
I think Center Parcs would be fantastic for those ages but if you want wow factor then maybe you want to go abroad and take them somewhere they've heard of- in which case Paris Eiffel Tower etc /DLP by Eurostar would be ideal.
Or maybe Copenhagen/LEGOLAND?
NYC is amazing but the travel time and jet lag are major down sides.
Or how about Iceland? Expensive but has wow factor +++

Amsterdam and Efteling.

Porto or Lisbon, Barcelona would all meet your criteria.